U.S. patent number 7,077,468 [Application Number 10/668,691] was granted by the patent office on 2006-07-18 for cover supported on a support.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Seeber AG & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Thomas Maierholzner.
United States Patent |
7,077,468 |
Maierholzner |
July 18, 2006 |
Cover supported on a support
Abstract
A cover is supported on a support, particularly a cover that is
arranged pivotably on a support. The cover is characterised by a
support member and a covering, that may be moved towards one
another in a first spatial direction and are positively engaged
with one another in the other spatial directions, wherein the
support member and the covering may be arrested with respect to one
another in at least one shifted position by a force that is exerted
in the direction of one of the other two spatial directions.
Inventors: |
Maierholzner; Thomas
(Vilsbiburg, DE) |
Assignee: |
Seeber AG & Co. KG
(Mannheim, DE)
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Family
ID: |
31896438 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/668,691 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040108740 A1 |
Jun 10, 2004 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 23, 2002 [DE] |
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202 14 711 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/188.19;
296/37.8; 297/411.35; 220/348 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/773 (20180201); B60N 2/753 (20180201) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/46 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;297/188.14,188.19,411.21,411.35 ;296/37.8,97.11 ;224/275,539
;220/345.3,345.4,348,351 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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35 29 957 |
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Mar 1987 |
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DE |
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199 18 608 |
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Oct 1999 |
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DE |
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196 46 645 |
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Nov 1999 |
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DE |
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198 12 432 |
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Apr 2000 |
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DE |
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201 00 902 |
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Jul 2001 |
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DE |
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0 854 064 |
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Jul 1998 |
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EP |
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1 348 593 |
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Jan 2003 |
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EP |
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Primary Examiner: Brown; Peter R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wilford; Andrew
Claims
I claim:
1. An armrest comprising: an elongated support member pivotable at
one end thereof by a hinge with respect to a support; an armrest
cover member slidable longitudinally on said support member, said
support member having a surface turned toward said armrest cover
member and said armrest cover member having a surface juxtaposed
with the surface of said support member; at least one elastic
element on one of said members bearing on the other of said member
to separate said surfaces from one another and allow longitudinal
relative displacement of said members, said armrest cover member
being loadable by an arm of a user to compress said elastic element
and press said surfaces against each other, thereby locking said
armrest cover member relative to said support member in any
relative displacement positions of said members permitted by said
longitudinal relative displacement.
2. The armrest defined in claim 1 wherein the elastic element is
provided with a pressure spring mounted on a carrier plate located
on said support member.
3. The armrest defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier plate has a
multiplicity of holes in an array extending in a longitudinal
direction and accommodating respective pressure springs each
forming an elastic element bearing on said armrest cover
member.
4. The armrest defined in claim 3 wherein each of said springs has
a cap bearing upon said armrest cover member.
5. The armrest defined in claim 4 wherein at least one of said
surfaces has a strip exerting strong static friction on the other
of said surfaces to lock said surfaces together upon the
application of a load to said armrest cover member.
6. The armrest defined in claim 5 wherein said strip has a toothed
or ridged configuration.
7. The armrest defined in claim 6 wherein said other surface is
provided with a strip with strong static friction juxtaposed with
the first mentioned strip.
8. The armrest defined in claim 7 wherein said other strip has a
toothed or ridged arrangement engaging the toothed or ridged
arrangement of the first mentioned strip.
9. The armrest defined in claim 1 wherein a brake is provided
between said support member and said armrest cover member to slow
sliding movement of said armrest cover member.
10. The armrest defined in claim 9 wherein said brake is a silicone
brake.
11. The armrest defined in claim 10 wherein said brake is secured
to a carrier plate on said support member and has a crown gear
engaging a longitudinally extending array of teeth in a channel
formed on said cover member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a cover supported on a support,
particularly a cover that is arranged pivotably on a support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Armrests that may be adjusted, for instance in terms of height,
with reference to a support device are known in the related art. An
armrest of such kind is known from German patent document 198 12
432 filed 21 Mar. 1998 by N. Lotz et al. The armrest is adjusted
with a lever arm. In addition, the armrest is arranged
pivotably.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
cover that is usable in a wide range of situations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention a cover of the kind indicated in the
introduction, this task is solved with a support member and
covering that may be moved towards one another in a first spatial
direction and are positively engaged with one another in the other
spatial directions, wherein the support member and the covering may
be arrested with respect to one another in at least one shifted
position by a force that is exerted in the direction of one of the
other two spatial directions.
The cover according to the invention is usable particularly as an
armrest in a motor vehicle, for example as an armrest on the middle
console. In this case, the armrest is preferably arranged movably
in the direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the cover,
i.e. in this case the armrest, may also be pivoted about a
horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of travel. The
armrest may be moved until a force from above besides the weight of
the covering of the cover is exerted on the cover. If an additional
force is applied, for example by an arm that is rested on the
armrest, the covering is locked with respect to the support member.
This prevents the arm that is thus resting on the armrest from
being moved in an undesired way.
A cover on which the support member and the covering may be locked
with respect to one another in any shifted position is particularly
suitable. In this way, particularly when the cover is used as an
armrest, all positions are then possible for resting the arm.
One suitable embodiment of the cover provides that in an unloaded
condition the support member and the cover are separated from one
another by an elastic element that is connected to the support
member or the covering and in the loaded condition are pressed
against one another by compression of the elastic element. The
elastic element thus assures that sliding friction or rolling
friction occurs only in the area of the elastic element. If the
elastic element includes a roller, a wheel or a ball bearing in the
contact area between the support member and the covering, rolling
friction is present.
The elastic element is advantageously constructed with pressure
springs that are attached to a moving carrier plate located on the
support member. The pressure springs have a spring force that is
greater than the weight of the covering.
The pressure springs are preferably located in blind holes in the
moving carrier plate.
In order to ensure a minimum of friction between the covering and
the support member, the side of the pressure springs that
cooperates with the covering is covered with an individual cap.
In one advantageous embodiment, the cover is equipped with a strip,
particularly a rubber strip, that exerts strong static friction on
an adjacent surface. The strip is attached either to the support
member, particularly to the moving carrier plate, or to the
covering, or to the support member and the covering.
It is also advantageous if the strip includes a toothed or ridged
arrangement. Especially if two strips are applied to the support
member and/or the covering, and each includes a toothed or ridged
arrangement, or if the adjacent surface includes a toothed or
ridged arrangement, a strong retention force is exerted when the
covering is pressed against the support member, for instance by
resting an arm or another object thereon.
A brake, particularly a silicone brake, may be fitted
advantageously between the support member and the covering to
increase the delay in sliding movements of the cover.
In one configuration of the invention the brake is secured to the
moving carrier plate and is equipped with a crown gear that engages
with a lengthwise tooth arrangement arranged in a groove in the
covering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become
more readily apparent from the following description, reference
being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support and a support member
articulated therewith with via a hinge for a cover with a moving
carrier plate,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover covering together with
the moving carrier plate,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the covering without the moving
carrier plate, and
FIG. 4 is a cross-section along line IV--IV in FIG. 2.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
An armrest for a middle console of a motor vehicle includes a cover
1 (FIG. 4). Cover 1 includes a covering 2 and a support member 3.
Covering 2 includes an outer part 4 and an inner part 5, the upper
and lateral sides of which are covered by outer part 4. A space
between outer part 4 and inner part 5 accommodates reinforcing
walls 6 or ribs.
Support member 3 rests on a support 30. It is pivotable with
respect to support 30 by means of hinges 31, 32 (FIG. 1). Hinge
clips 33, 34 are attached to hinges 31, 32 respectively (FIGS. 2,
3), and are in turn permanently secured to support member 3.
Inner part 5 includes two channels 7, 8, that extend
longitudinally. Channels 7, 8 each accommodate a guide lip 9, 10,
which are screwed or stuck into channels 7, 8. Guide lips 9, 10
both have an L-shaped cross-section with legs 130 and 140 point
inwards.
Support member 3 supports a moving carrier plate 11 that is
securely attached to support member 3 with screws 12.
Moving carrier plate 11 includes projections 13, 14 that protrude
into the area between guide lips 9, 10 and the bottom surface of
channels 7, 8.
Narrow strips of a material with high static friction are attached
to the side of moving carrier plate 11 facing channels 7, 8.
In the same way, strips 17, 18 are also attached to the bottom
surface of both channels 7, 8, and these cooperate adhesively with
strips 15, 16, when covering 2 is pressed against support member 3.
Strips 15, 16; 17, 18 are also furnished with a toothed or ridged
arrangement to enhance the adhesion between covering 2 and the
support member.
Moving carrier plate 11 is provided with boreholes 40 on the side
thereof facing inner part 5 in the area of channels 7, 8 to
accommodate elastic elements that press covering 2 upwards at
localised points. The elastic elements are preferably helical
pressure springs 41, the side of each of which that faces covering
2 is enclosed by a hemispherical or cylindrical cap 42. Cap 42
reduces the friction that is generated when covering 2 slides over
moving carrier plate 11. It also protects pressure springs 41 or
the surface in channels 7, 8 from damage.
In order to enable covering 2 and support member 3 to be adjusted
only slowly with respect to one another, a brake 43, preferably a
silicone brake, is attached therebetween, and is retained in moving
carrier plate 11. Brake 43 includes a crown gear 44 that cooperates
with a lengthwise tooth arrangement 45. Lengthwise tooth
arrangement 45 is seated in a channel 46 in covering 2.
The invention thus provides a cover 1 including a covering 2 and a
support member 3 that are movable towards one another in a first
spatial direction and are positively are positively engaged with
one another in the other spatial directions, wherein support member
3 and covering 2 may be locked in at least one shifted position
with respect to each other by a force exerted in the direction of
one of the two other spatial directions.
* * * * *